Nalinda Jayatissa has responded to opposition claims regarding the expenses related to the remains of deceased Iranian sailors, stating that the costs are being borne by the government on a humanitarian basis.
Addressing the media, Sujeewa Senasinghe of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) questioned the expenditure for cold freezers used to store the remains of the sailors who died after the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena was struck off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Senasinghe said there were more than 80 bodies and questioned how long the remains would need to be stored and the costs involved in maintaining cold storage facilities.
He also raised concerns over the broader situation, stating that Sri Lanka may have become involved in an unnecessary international issue and questioned what agreements had been reached with the United States and India.
Responding to these claims, Minister Jayatissa stated that the Sri Lankan government will cover all related expenses while the bodies remain in the country and the injured sailors receive treatment.
“Until those bodies remain in Sri Lanka, until the sailors remain under the responsibility of the Sri Lankan Government, and until the injured Iranian soldiers are admitted to our hospitals, the Government of Sri Lanka will bear the expenses on a humanitarian basis,” he said in a post on social media.
